Worse Than Sugar: High – Fructose Corn Syrup

July 30, 2015

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is back in the news. A research team from Princeton has concluded that high-fructose corn syrup outdoes sugar when it comes to increasing body fat. Just to be clear, sugar causes a lot of trouble–raising inflammation and contributing to insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity. But according to some research, high-fructose corn syrup is even Read More »

Zinc Boosts Recovery from Stroke

July 27, 2015

Zinc is known to have significant effects on neurological and immune function. But for vegetarians and the elderly, zinc intake is often lower than the recommended daily allowance. Physicians at a rehabilitation hospital in Italy looked at how zinc could impact victims of stroke.  They studied recovery from recent stroke among patients who were adequately Read More »

The Flax of Life

July 23, 2015

I have long championed the benefits of flaxseeds in scientific papers, lectures, books and interviews.  When I featured flaxseeds in Superimmunity for Kids, readers took notice. Now flaxseeds are turning up as a star ingredient for recipes in magazines, and for good reason: these little seeds pack a big nutritional punch. But then again, flaxseeds have been famous Read More »

A Tale of Two Fibers

July 20, 2015

Fiber is the name given to complex carbohydrates that are resistant to human digestion. Examples of fiber include cellulose and pectin.  Fiber comes from plants, and the usual sources are vegetables, cereals, bread, nuts, seeds and fruit. Medical researchers have been recommending high fiber diets, yet dietary patterns in North America show no significant increase in fiber Read More »

Pancreatic Cancer Linked to Drinking Soda

July 16, 2015

Sweetened carbonated beverages, known as soft drinks or sodas, have been studied for the possibility that they can raise the risk of pancreatic cancer. A study from the University of Minnesota looked at the data for 60,000 Chinese men and women who were followed for 14 years and found that drinking two or more soft drinks Read More »

Probiotics Boost Immunity

July 13, 2015

Probiotics, beneficial bacteria in food or dietary supplements, are the subject of ongoing research for their potential to help boost immunity. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study done at the University of Wisconsin found that children who received two doses a day of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis for 6 months had a major reduction in acute winter illnesses. The Read More »